Ramblers Preston Group - Message Board

Scottish Borders Walking Festival 4th - 12th September 2010

The Scottish Borders Walking Festival is the longest established walking festival in Scotland.

It takes place in a different part of the Scottish Borders each year and 2010's theme is "Walking the Tweed Valley".

Based in the Royal Burgh of Peebles, the Festival will celebrate the area's stunning scenery with walks taking place in and around Peebles, Innerleithen, Walkerburn, West Linton and Selkirk.

Click here or on the logo for more information.

(Date Posted: 26th July 2010)

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Preston Group AGM

The Preston Group AGM will be held at the Parish Meeting Room, St Annes Church, Woodplumpton on Saturday 13th November 2010 with a pre-meeting walk to be arranged.. Although the meeting is for members only, the pre-meeting walk will be open to non-members including the Woodplumpton community at large.

Further details will be published here as these become available and details of the walk added to the walks programme.

All members of the Ramblers Preston Group are invited. Please communicate your interest via Contact Us web page.

(Date Posted: 20th July 2010)

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Preston Group Committee Meeting

The date for the next Preston Group Committee Meeting has been set for Thursday 9th September 2010. If you wish to raise any questions or topics please contact us via the Contact Us web page.

(Date Posted: 18th July 2010)

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Pendle Walking Festival

The Pendle Walking Festival has been organised for the dates of 04/09/2010 to 12/09/2010. It offers a great choice of guided walks of varying lengths in excellent walking country.

There is a downloadable .pdf file available at the following Pendle web site Pendle Walking Festival and more information is available at VisitLancashire.com

(Date Posted: 18th July 2010)

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Walk Friendly - The Boatyard Canalside Pub

The Boatyard canalside pub Riley Green has offered its premises and facilities as a base for us to use as part of our walks. The Boatyard is just one minute from the M65, junction 3 with a large parking area, toilets, and coffee shop open from 7.30am for those warm coffees to start the day. There is also a restaurant area which can seat 80 people serving sandwiches through to hot meals (including carvery if arranged prior to the event). Walks could start and end there or be a refreshment point during a walk. If anyone wishes to organise a published Preston Group walk and take advantage of the Boatyard's hospitality, please contact us via the Contact Us page.

(Date Posted: 18th July 2010)

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Preston Group Winter Walks Programme

A provisional winter (October 2010 to February 2011) walks programme has been published on the Ramblers central site and the Ramblers Preston Group's Walks web page.

(Date Posted: 18th July 2010)

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Call for Email Addresses

We thank those who have provided Kath Finlayson, our Membership Secretary, with their email address but the number Kath has represents only about 20% of the group's members.

Obviously we can't expect 100% as not all members have internet access and an email address but we would have anticipated a greater percentage.

One doesn't need to own a computer and have one's own internet access to get access to email facilities and have an email address. Libraries, for example, provide internet access, and then via a web browser, e.g. Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc. one can make use of "WEB Mail" as provided by various sites such as Hotmail, Yahoo mail, Google mail, etc. If you know of anyone who doesn't have a computer and doesn't know of these facilities and would like to have an email address please let him/her know of these publicly available facilities.

So, as a reminder, can we request that all who have the capability, to communicate with us their email address. You can do this via the Contact Page selecting the "Membership Secretary" option. Also can you please supply your Ramblers Membership Number. Only the Group Membership Secretary will keep these details.

Your co-operation in this regard will be greatly appreciated - Thank you.

(Date Updated: 18th July 2010)

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Committee Member Vacancies

Within the Preston Group there are a number of Committee Member vacancies (click on the links for further information about the roles).

• Group Secretary
• Group Publicity Secretary
• Group Newsletter Editor

Can you help? Even if you are not yet a member of the Ramblers your assistance would be invaluable for keeping the group functioning. For further information about helping in one of these roles please contact us using our contact page.

Please support your local Ramblers Group

(Date Updated: 18th July 2010)

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Boat Trips On The Lancaster Canal

The Lancaster Canal Trust extends a cordial invitation to visitors and local residents alike to come aboard their trip boat “Waterwitch” and enjoy a short cruise along the lovely Northern Reaches of this famous and historic waterway.

For more information including timetable and map go to this link http://www.lctrust.co.uk/pages/the-trust/trip-boat.php

(Date Posted: 25th May 2010)

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The Black Sheep Brewery Boots & Beer Walking Festival 2010
Friday 10th to Sunday 12th Sept 2010

“What could be better than a weekend of great walks, beautiful countryside, fantastic beer and excellent entertainment? The 9th annual Black Sheep Boots and Beer Walking Festival is set to be our biggest yet. With a jam packed programme to suit all levels of walkers, it is an event not to be missed!”

For more information go to this link http://www.blacksheepbrewery.co.uk/BootsNBeer/

(Date Posted: 24th May 2010)

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Tesco Rewards Vouchers

Tesco Rewards Vouchers can be used to pay for your Ramblers single or joint annual membership as promoted on this Tesco page.

The process is to follow the steps on either the "Ramblers - Single Annual Membership" or "Ramblers - Joint Annual Membership" pages applying for sufficient Ramblers reward tokens.

As a point of clarification, information on the Tesco site states that rewards tokens cannot be used towards renewing existing memberships. I have obtained clarification from the Ramblers and been advised that the ramblers have agreed with Tesco that tokens can be used for renewing existing memberships. However. it may be wise for you to call the Ramblers on the published phone number 020 7339 8500 for confirmation if you are interested in availing yourself of this offer.

Please note:

Only one £7.50 Tesco Club Card voucher is required for a Single Annual Membership.

Only one £10.00 Tesco Club Card voucher is required for a Joint Annual Membership.

(Date Posted: 11th January 2010 and updated 27th January 2010)

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Call For Footpath Walkers

The Footpath Secretaries are now seeking volunteers who would be willing to walk nominated footpaths at least once a year and report any obstructions, e.g. missing or defective stiles and bridges, barbed wire, locked gates, etc.

The sketch alongside gives an outline of the parishes and districts in the Preston Group´s territory.

Footpaths can be allocated by parish or part of a parish, to fit in with your home location or favourite walking area. Alternatively they can be allocated as circular walks, e.g. one of the 10 Walks Round Preston, or as sections of the Round Preston Walk. You can, of course, walk the whole route if you choose.

Each volunteer would be supplied with the necessary map(s), report forms and guidance notes. Out of pocket expenses, including mileage at 28p per mile, will be refunded.

If you are interested in helping with keeping the footpath network in our territory open and easy contact the Footpath Secretary using the contact page.

To download a PDF version of this please click here.

(Date Posted: 22nd November 2009)

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The Ramblers - Volunteer News & Updates Page

The Volunteer News & Updates page on The Ramblers central site is updated on a regular basis and contains information relevant to all volunteers particularly committee members. It is suggested you consult it every week or so. It does have an RSS feed to which you can subscribe.

(Date Posted: 30th October 2009)

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Recommended Browsers

The current Ramblers Preston Group web site has been tested with and is compatible with the following browsers running on Windows 7 64bit.

• Internet Explorer v8
• Mozilla Firefox v3.6 or later
• Google Chrome v5.0.375.99
• Opera v10.##
• Safari v4.0.##
• Flock v2.5.##

It is recommended that you upgrade to one of these browsers.

If you have any comments regarding this topic or experience problems with any of the browsers listed please contact the web master using our contact page advising of the browser being used, its version and the operating system you are using, e.g. Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP2.

(Date Updated: 14th July 2010)

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Cotswold Outdoor

Cotswold Outdoor is the Ramblers Recommended Retailer and their branch on Fishergate in Preston (opposite Waterstones) offers members of the local Ramblers Mid-Lancs area and new members of the Ramblers an exclusive local discount of 15% off all boots, clothing and equipment compared to the standard national rate of 10%.

New members joining the RA will also receive an introductory 20% voucher valid for three months. Simply present your RA membership card and/or voucher to claim your discount.

These discounts are not available on sale and special offer items.

The store offers a full expert boot fitting service by a fully trained fitting technician (appointment recommended). If you already have walking boots but having problems with them, take them in and they will assess whether it is something that can be addressed though insoles or volume reducers.

For more details contact the store or visit the Cotswold Outdoor Preston store located at...

Cotswold Outdoor
Crystal House
135 Fishergate
Preston
PR1 2AH
01772 270 910

Discounts shown are wholly at the discretion of the retailer and are not an entitlement to Ramblers members.

(Date Updated: 18th July 2010)

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Trespass

The Preston Branch of Trespass is offering 10% discount on any of their stock to Ramblers members on production of the membership card

The Preston Trespass store is located at...

Trespass
3/4 Cheapside
Preston
PR1 2AP
01772 824 468

Discounts shown are wholly at the discretion of the retailer and are not an entitlement to Ramblers members.

(Date Updated: 14th July 2010)